Representing New Orleans in Finland
Ambassador Bruce J. Oreck and the staff of the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki, Finland hosted 1,000 guests on Wednesday, June 23 to celebrate the 234th anniversary of the Independence of the United States.
This special occasion highlighted Louisiana through the sights, music, smells and incredible taste of Louisiana’s world-class cuisine as prepared by renowned celebrity Chef John Folse and his team. All Louisiana seafood producers, both salt and fresh water, are under siege with folks turning away from products because of the oil spill without fully understanding the situation; a terrible added challenge for the people of Louisiana.
Working seamlessly with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board and world-class logistical assistance from FedEx, Embassy Helsinki demonstrated that Louisiana is open for business and still has some of the best seafood found anywhere. Louisiana is also a truly remarkable destination for Finnish travelers and also home to many exciting food and non-food products and services. Several Louisiana companies and organizations provided materials to showcase the state. The Embassy presented 1,000 swag bags to guests filled with goodies from great Louisiana entities such as Louisiana Fish Fry Products; Community Coffee; Planet Beach; Tabasco Sauce from the McIlhenny Company; John Folse & Company; Red Fish Grill; Hotel Monteleone; Ralph Brennan’s Bacco; Ralph’s on the Park; and the Arts and Antiques of Royal Street; plus Mardi Gras beads, masks, boas, cups and maps from the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Louisiana State Office of Tourism.
Guests included Finland’s Prime Minister along with senior national and regional government officials, the Diplomatic Corps and business leaders, such as key seafood importers, restaurateurs, leading retailers plus food, entertainment and travel journalists; a guest list crafted to amplify Louisiana’s wonderful story.
Chef Folse enthusiastically shared his passion for Louisiana gastronomy through several cooking demonstrations for restaurateurs, importers and prominent retailers plus interviews with influential food journalists. With his charm, Chef Folse embodies the very spirit and vitality that is Louisiana. He will be featured mid-August on the top Finnish cooking TV show demonstrating Louisiana cuisine. Chef Folse also gathered leading Finnish chefs to join him in the Ambassador’s kitchen to share his passion for Louisiana cuisine as they cooked together. That episode was filmed for a Finnish web-based cooking site.
Initial results are impressive. One trendy restaurant announced a mid-August Mardi Gras celebration with Louisiana cuisine. The leading department store and food retailer requested assistance in sourcing U.S. seafood products. Raves are still coming; multifaceted opportunities are sure to follow.
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